Exercise equipment

ABSTRACT

An exercise apparatus may include a first horizontal bar, a second horizontal bar, a titled body supporting unit, a supporting assembly and an adjusting unit. In one embodiment, both the first horizontal bar and second horizontal bar are located at a rear portion of the exercise equipment, so the user can fully extend his arms and stretch the back muscle and cervical spine when grasping the horizontal bar. The adjusting unit is used to adjust the titled angle of the titled body supporting unit. The user can hold either the first or second horizontal bar and lay the body on top of the titled body supporting unit, such that the titled body supporting unit can sustain a substantial portion of the user&#39;s weight to enable the user to lift the body with the arms holding on the horizontal bar, even though the user is elder or overweight.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/333,561, filed on May 9,2016, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to exercise equipment, and moreparticularly to exercise equipment that allows the user to conductstretching exercise for the user's cervical spine and back muscle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There has been a growing awareness in recent years that physicalexercise is important to mental and physical health and fitness. It isnow generally believed that a conditioning program should entailexercise of a wide variety of muscles of the body and should alsocondition the heart and lungs, i.e., provide aerobic benefits.

The use of home exercise equipment is becoming wide spread as the publichas increasing concern about their physical well being. Many differenttypes of home exercise devices are known including treadmills, bicycles,weight lifting equipment, etc. Among the more basic and inexpensivetypes of exercise equipment is known as the horizontal bar, which can beused to perform a variety of exercises.

Different types of horizontal bar are well known in the art. The devicesrange from horizontal bars provided as a part of fairly complexresistance training apparatus to function as a stand-alone unit. Thesestand-alone units generally comprise vertically extending posts having ahorizontal bar extending therebetween and secured to the posts byvarious means. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,642,278 teaches a horizontalbar extending across and between two vertical extension members andconnected thereto by U-shaped bolt means extending through the equallyspaced holes in each vertical extension member to support each end ofthe bar as shown in FIG. 1.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,108,636 to Garcia discloses a portable exerciseapparatus includes a hollow central bar member and telescopic endportions operably insertable therein as shown in FIG. 2. Such telescopicend portions allow the central bar member to be securely engaged betweena pair of vertical members. A plurality of spring members are disposedwithin the hollow portion of the central bar member and provideresistive force for assisting to maintain the telescopic end portions atstable positions during operating conditions. The central bar memberfurther includes a plurality of apertures spaced along an outer surfacethereof and for receiving a plurality of fastening members therethroughso that a plurality of handle members can be selectively positionedalong the length of the central bar member.

Normally, when the user uses the exercise equipment including thehorizontal bar, the user's body has to be in an upright position.Namely, the body of the user has to be substantially perpendicular tothe horizontal bar. However, it is very difficult for elder oroverweight people to exercise with the horizontal bar because it isdifficult for them to lift their body up in this upright position. Also,it is difficult for the user to stretch both the cervical spine and backmuscle when the body is in a substantially upright position. Therefore,there remains a need for a new and improved exercise apparatus toovercome the problem presented above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, an exercise apparatus may include a first horizontal bar,a second horizontal bar, a titled body supporting unit, a supportingassembly and an adjusting unit. In one embodiment, the first horizontalbar is located below the second horizontal bar. The adjusting unit isused to adjust the titled angle of the titled body supporting unit.

The supporting assembly may include a pair of the vertical posts and abase to support the entire structure of the exercise apparatus. Thesupporting assembly may further include a lower supporting unit locatedat the base on both sides of the body supporting unit. One end of thelower supporting unit is secured on the base, and the other end thereofis pivotally connected to the lower portion of both sides of the bodysupporting unit. The supporting assembly may further include an outersupporting unit on both sides of the exercise apparatus. In oneembodiment, the outer supporting unit may have a first end detachablysecured on the vertical post, and a second end pivotally secured on thebase. It is important to note that both the first horizontal bar andsecond horizontal bar are disposed behind the vertical post, so when theuser wishes to grasp either the first or second horizontal bar, theuser's arms and body can be fully extended, and the back muscle andcervical spine can be fully stretched.

It is also important to note that the supporting assembly may furtherinclude a bar supporting unit on each vertical post extending toward therear side of the exercise apparatus. In one embodiment, the barsupporting unit may include a plurality of positioning groove to securethe horizontal bar disposed therein. In one embodiment, the secondhorizontal bar is disposed in the positioning groove and the user canadjust the position of the second horizontal bar to fully stretchhis/her back muscle and cervical spine.

The exercise apparatus may further include a securing unit to secure ahead supporting unit. In one embodiment, the securing unit is located onthe second horizontal bar, and the head supporting unit can be hang onboth sides of the securing unit. In another embodiment, the headsupporting unit can be made by resilient materials, so the user's headcan be easily disposed therein. The head supporting unit may include afirst supporting unit and a second supporting unit. In one embodiment,the first supporting unit may be used to support around the user's chinand the second supporting unit may be used to support around the upperportion of the user's head. It is important to note that the first andsecond supporting units are adjustable to fit the size of the user'shead. Furthermore, the first and second supporting units can be used toshare a portion of the user's weight, so when the user grasps thehorizontal bar, the arms can be relaxed to a certain extent.

The exercise equipment can be folded to minimize its size, so when it isnot in use, the user can easily store it. The user can first detach theouter supporting unit from the vertical post and the adjusting unit canbe loosened between the vertical post. It is noted that the base mayhave a first base element and a second base element, which are pivotallyconnected with each other. When the exercise equipment is folded, thefirst base element can be lifted in a counterclockwise manner, so thebody supporting unit can be pushed toward the vertical post tosubstantially minimize the size of the exercise equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art disclosing an exercise equipmentincluding a horizontal bar extending across and between two verticalextension members.

FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art disclosing a portable exercise apparatusincludes a hollow central bar member and telescopic end portionsoperably insertable therein.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic view of the exercise equipment in thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a front schematic view of the exercise equipment withthe head supporting unit in the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a lateral schematic view of the exercise equipment inthe present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a lateral schematic view of the exercise equipment inthe present invention when it is folded.

FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic view of a user wearing the headsupporting unit and exercising on the exercise equipment in the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description ofthe presently exemplary device provided in accordance with aspects ofthe present invention and is not intended to represent the only forms inwhich the present invention may be prepared or utilized. It is to beunderstood, rather, that the same or equivalent functions and componentsmay be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended tobe encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devicesand materials similar or equivalent to those described can be used inthe practice or testing of the invention, the exemplary methods, devicesand materials are now described.

All publications mentioned are incorporated by reference for the purposeof describing and disclosing, for example, the designs and methodologiesthat are described in the publications that might be used in connectionwith the presently described invention. The publications listed ordiscussed above, below and throughout the text are provided solely fortheir disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application.Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the inventors arenot entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention.

As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow,the meaning of “a”, “an”, and “the” includes reference to the pluralunless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in thedescription herein and throughout the claims that follow, the terms“comprise or comprising”, “include or including”, “have or having”,“contain or containing” and the like are to be understood to beopen-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. As used in thedescription herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of“in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. maybe used herein to describe various elements, these elements should notbe limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish oneelement from another. For example, a first element could be termed asecond element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a firstelement, without departing from the scope of the embodiments. As usedherein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one ormore of the associated listed items.

In one aspect, referring to FIGS. 3 to 7, an exercise apparatus 300 mayinclude a first horizontal bar 310, a second horizontal bar 320, atitled body supporting unit 330, a supporting assembly 340 and anadjusting unit 350. In one embodiment, the first horizontal bar 310 islocated below the second horizontal bar 320. The adjusting unit 350 isused to adjust the titled angle of the titled body supporting unit 330.More specifically, one end of the adjusting unit 350 is pivotallyconnected to the backside of the body supporting unit 330, and the otherend thereof is secured between the vertical posts 341.

The supporting assembly 340 may include a pair of the vertical posts 341and a base 342 to support the entire structure of the exercise apparatus300. The supporting assembly 340 may further include a lower supportingunit 343 located at the base 342 on both sides of the body supportingunit 330. One end of the lower supporting unit 343 is secured on thebase 342, and the other end thereof is pivotally connected to the lowerportion of both sides of the body supporting unit 330. The upper portionof the body supporting unit 330 is pivotally connected to the verticalpost 341. The supporting assembly 340 may further include an outersupporting unit 344 on both sides of the exercise apparatus 300. In oneembodiment, the outer supporting unit 344 may have a first end 3441detachably secured on the vertical post 341, and a second end 3442pivotally secured on the base 342. It is important to note that both thefirst horizontal bar 310 and second horizontal bar 320 are disposedbehind the vertical post 341, so when the user wishes to grasp eitherthe first or second horizontal bar, the user's arms and body can befully extended, and the back muscle and cervical spine can be fullystretched.

It is also important to note that the supporting assembly 340 mayfurther include a bar supporting unit 345 on each vertical post 341extending toward the rear side of the exercise apparatus 300. In oneembodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the bar supporting unit 345 mayinclude a plurality of positioning groove 3451 to secure the horizontalbar disposed therein. In one embodiment, the second horizontal bar 320is disposed in the positioning groove 3451 and the user can adjust theposition of the second horizontal bar 320 to fully stretch his/her backmuscle and cervical spine.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the exercise apparatus 300 may furtherinclude a securing unit 360 to secure a head supporting unit 370. In oneembodiment, the securing unit 360 is located on the second horizontalbar 320, and the head supporting unit 370 can be hang on both sides ofthe securing unit 360. In another embodiment, the head supporting unit370 can be made by resilient materials, so the user's head can be easilydisposed therein. The head supporting unit 370 may include a firstsupporting unit 371 and a second supporting unit 372. In one embodiment,the first supporting unit 371 may be used to support around the user'schin and the second supporting unit 372 may be used to support aroundthe upper portion of the user's head as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7. It isimportant to note that the first and second supporting units 371 and 372are adjustable to fit the size of the user's head. Furthermore, thefirst and second supporting units 371 and 372 can be used to share aportion of the user's weight, so when the user grasps the horizontalbar, the arms can be relaxed to a certain extent.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the exercise equipment 300 can be folded tominimize its size, so when it is not in use, the user can easily storeit. The user can first detach the outer supporting unit 344 from thevertical post 341 and the adjusting unit 350 can be loosened between thevertical post 341. It is noted that the base 342 may have a first baseelement 3421 and a second base element 3422, which are pivotallyconnected with each other. When the exercise equipment 300 is folded,the first base element 3421 can be lifted and rotated in acounterclockwise manner as shown in FIG. 6, so the body supporting unit330 can be pushed toward the vertical post 341 to substantially minimizethe size of the exercise equipment 300.

In one embodiment, the user can hold the first horizontal bar 310 andlay the body on a top surface of the titled body supporting unit 330,such that the titled body supporting unit 330 can sustain a substantialportion of the user's weight to enable the user to lift the body withthe arms holding on the first horizontal bar 310, even though the useris elder or overweight. Also, since the first horizontal bar 310 islocated behind the vertical post 341, the user's arms can be fullyextended, and the back muscle and cervical spine can be fully stretched.As discussed above, the head supporting unit 370 may be provided toshare a portion of the user's weight, so the user's arms can be relaxedto a certain extent.

As shown in FIG. 7, the second horizontal bar 320 is disposed higher andfurther outside from the vertical post 341 to increase the loading ofthe user's exercise. As discussed above, the bar supporting unit 345 hasa plurality of positioning grooves 3451, so the second horizontal bar320 can be moved along the bar supporting unit 345 according to thepreference of the user. The further the second horizontal bar 320 movestowards the outer edge of the bar supporting unit 345, the more theuser's arms can extend.

Having described the invention by the description and illustrationsabove, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the inventionand are not to be considered as limiting. Accordingly, the invention isnot to be considered as limited by the foregoing description, butincludes any equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An exercise equipment comprising at least onehorizontal bar, a titled body supporting unit, and a supportingassembly, wherein the supporting assembly has a pair of vertical postsand a base to support the exercise equipment, and an upper portion ofthe titled body supporting unit is pivotally secured on each of thevertical posts, and the horizontal bar is disposed behind the verticalposts, namely on an opposite side of the titled body supporting unit, sowhen the user grasps the horizontal bar, the user's arms can be fullyextended, and the user's back muscle and cervical spine can bestretched.
 2. The exercise equipment of claim 1, further comprising anadjusting unit to adjust a tilted angle of the titled body supportingunit.
 3. The exercise equipment of claim 1, wherein a the supportingassembly further includes a lower supporting unit located at the base onboth sides of the body supporting unit; one end of the lower supportingunit is secured on the base, and the other end thereof is pivotallyconnected to a lower portion of both sides of the body supporting unit.4. The exercise equipment of claim 1, wherein the supporting assemblyfurther includes a bar supporting unit on each vertical post extendingtoward the opposite side of the titled body supporting unit, and the barsupporting unit has a plurality of positioning grooves thereon.
 5. Theexercise equipment of claim 2, wherein the supporting assembly furtherincludes a bar supporting unit on each vertical post extending towardthe opposite side of the titled body supporting unit, and the barsupporting unit has a plurality of positioning grooves thereon.
 6. Theexercise equipment of claim 4, wherein the horizontal bar is configuredto be disposed in one of the positioning grooves and the user can movethe horizontal bar along the bar supporting unit according to the user'spreference.
 7. The exercise equipment of claim 5, wherein the horizontalbar is configured to be disposed in one of the positioning grooves andthe user can move the horizontal bar along the bar supporting unitaccording to the user's preference.
 8. The exercise equipment of claim4, further comprising a head supporting unit on the horizontal bar tosupport the user's head, wherein the head supporting unit includes afirst supporting unit used to support around the user's chin and asecond supporting unit used to support around the upper portion of theuser's head.
 9. The exercise equipment of claim 7, further comprising ahead supporting unit on the horizontal bar to support the user's head,wherein the head supporting unit includes a first supporting unit usedto support around the user's chin and a second supporting unit used tosupport around the upper portion of the user's head.
 10. The exerciseequipment of claim 9, wherein the first and second supporting units areused to share a portion of the user's weight, so when the user graspsthe horizontal bar, the arms can be relaxed to a certain extent.
 11. Theexercise equipment of claim 1, wherein the base has a first base elementand a second base element, which are pivotally connected with eachother, and when the exercise equipment is folded, the first base elementis configured to be lifted and rotated in a counterclockwise manner, andthe titled body supporting unit can be moved toward the vertical poststo minimize the size of the exercise equipment.
 12. The exerciseequipment of claim 9, wherein the base has a first base element and asecond base element, which are pivotally connected with each other, andwhen the exercise equipment is folded, the first base element isconfigured to be lifted and rotated in a counterclockwise manner, andthe titled body supporting unit can be moved toward the vertical poststo minimize the size of the exercise equipment.